Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T., is a board-certified cardiologist, certified bioenergetic psychotherapist, and certified nutrition and anti-aging specialist. He has lectured and facilitated workshops worldwide and has authored several publications and medical periodicals. He has been a featured guest on many national radio and television shows including CNN, MSNBC, Fox on Health, the Dr. Oz, The Doctors, and 700 Club shows, and The Today Show.

The 10 Worst Foods You Can Eat

You likely know that junk foods like potato chips and cookies don’t make the cut on “Team: Healthy Diet.” However, there’s also some other, less obvious bad foods that you should have on your radar.

What are the Worst Foods to Eat?

Here are the 10 worst foods for you (in no particular order – they’re all bad)…

1. Microwave Popcorn

Quick, easy, and often very tasty, microwave popcorn’s one of the worst foods to eat for several reasons. First, the microwavable bag is lined with a substance that, when heated, releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The American Cancer Society, PFOA stays in the environment and our bodies for a long time after exposure, and it has been shown to increase risk of certain cancers in lab animals as well as cause developmental irregularities. While the EPA has not officially classified PFOA as a carcinogen, it’s scientific advisory board suggested that PFOA is likely a human carcinogen after reviewing draft risk assessment data in 2005.

Second, the artificial butter flavoring in microwave popcorn may also contain 1 of 2 chemicals known to cause respiratory problems: diacetyl or 2,3-pentanedione (PD). While the biggest popcorn manufacturers have banned diacetyl from their products after it was shown to have caused lung diseases in those who regularly inhaled it (factory workers and even a consumer), many replaced the dangerous additive with 2,3-pentanedione, which recently has been shown to cause respiratory toxicity in rats.

Third, labels I have seen contain trans-fats – major contributors to arterial inflammation, the true root cause of heart disease (not cholesterol).

Lastly, keep in mind that approximately 85 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified (or “GMO”), which means it has likely been grown using extremely toxic pesticides. And, while GMOs have been shown to cause numerous adverse health effects in lab animals, they have not been tested for long-term safety in humans; read this handy fact sheet published by Alliance for Natural Health-USA for more information.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you abandon popcorn altogether, just the microwavable kind. In-and-of itself, popcorn can actually be a healthy snack: it contains lots of antioxidant polyphenols and is a good source of fiber. Just be sure to purchase organic or non-GMO corn to air pop and avoid any artificial flavorings. If you like a buttery flavor, be sure to use real melted (and preferably organic) butter rather than margarine (see #7 below). Better yet, drizzle your popcorn with heart healthy olive oil, or coconut oil. Add a few grinds of natural sea salt or sprinkle cayenne pepper on it for a spicy kick!

2. Fat-Free Ice Cream

Low-fat ice cream may sound like healthier fare, but it can cause just as many pounds gained, maybe even more! This is because sugar – another one of my heart-health villains – often replaces the missing fat in low- and non-fat varieties of ice cream. Fat helps your body feel satiated, and – like a speed bump – helps to slow any insulin surges needed to metabolize sugar in your bloodstream. Your body also needs fat to absorb and utilize fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. My advice – if you’ve got to have ice cream, keep the fat and limit portion size to 1/2 cup.

3. “Natural” Sugar Substitutes and Artificial Sweeteners

These days, many sweeteners are being touted as “healthier” options, or more “natural” sugars. Don’t buy into the hype. No matter what outfit it has on – raw sugar, agave, or molasses (and even maple syrup or honey, which offer some nutritional benefits) – if it’s sweet, comprised of sucrose, glucose, or fructose, and raises blood sugar – it needs to be used in strict moderation. Remember, sugar and its resulting insulin surge is the number one risk factor in heart disease, NOT cholesterol. Although I only touch on sugar as one of the worst foods to eat here, I’ve written about it’s damaging effects extensively in my books and on this site (this Can Too Much Sugar Kill You? article is a good place to start).

If you’re hoping artificial sweeteners are healthier options, you’ll be disappointed to learn that they’re among the worst foods for you. Chemical sugar substitutes like aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin have rap sheets riddled with controversy over their effects on the body, which include headaches, weight gain, and even the possible development of diabetes, heart disease or cancer. I recommend avoiding artificial sweeteners at all costs. If you’ve got to feed a sweet tooth, opt for very small amounts of honey, maple syrup, or the natural sweetener, Stevia.

4. Canned Soup

Although quick and convenient, canned soup can contain monosodium glutamate (commonly known as MSG), a “flavor enhancer” that is notorious for causing reactions such as headaches, nausea, heart palpitations, and more. MSG is an excitotoxin that can enter the brain and cause damage to neurons. Although it is widely associated with Chinese food, MSG is also frequently found in American fast and processed foods – be sure to carefully examine food labels for its elusive presence – MSG can go by many names; my colleague, Dr. Joe Mercola, provides great tips for keeping MSG out of your food in this Huffington Post article.

Unfortunately, MSG isn’t likely to be the only unwanted substance lurking in your soup. Canned soup is notorious for being extremely high in sodium content. And if MSG and sodium aren’t enough to send you running, most soup cans liners on the market also contain the chemical BPA which can leach into the soup. BPA has been identified as an estrogen-mimicking hormone disruptor and, although its full range of effects on the human body is unknown, I’ve seen research describing an association between higher levels of BPA and risk of high blood pressure and coronary artery disease (see #20 on my Top Toxins to Avoid list).

You can easily reduce your exposure to MSG, excess sodium, and BPA if you’re willing to spend a little extra time in your kitchen… Cook up a pot of nourishing, homemade soup with some of these healthy spices next time you want a warm and healthy meal, and freeze some to have handy next time you want a quick bowl. Here’s a recipe for my Spicy Chicken Soup.

These days, it seems we are inundated with pesticide-loaded foods. Thankfully, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out an annual Shopper’s Guide to help consumers reduce their exposure to pesticides. Strawberries topped EWG’s 2016 list as having the highest pesticide residue content, followed by apples, then nectarines. Peaches, celery and grapes ranked fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively (cherries, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes also made it into the top ten). EWG noted findings of 15 pesticides in a single grape, and 17 different pesticides within one strawberry sampling.

As pesticides are linked to neurological, reproductive, and hormone dysfunction, produce with significant residues are among the worst foods to eat. Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of pesticides, as are fetuses. Avoiding this onslaught of chemicals is one of my top reasons to buy organic. Arm yourself with knowledge: familiarize yourself with EWG’s 2018 list enough to be able to identify which fruits and vegetables are organic “musts.”

6. Conventionally Grown Corn

As already mentioned, most conventional corn on the market today has been genetically modified or engineered (GMO). GMO crops have been controversial for numerous reasons, one of the main ones being that such crops are often engineered to withstand large doses of toxic herbicides (pesticides). Interestingly enough, sweet corn has, for the last few years, been at the low-end of EWG’s lists of fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide content, ranking in at #49. Doesn’t change my mind on eating it though, as when it comes to chemicals in or on food, my motto is “less is best.” I believe crops that have been created to take on more chemical additives have no place on your table. Buy organic corn whenever possible, and try to support your local farmers who don’t use chemicals (or use far less of them) in growing whenever possible.

On a related note, be sure to read ingredient labels, as corn ingredients like corn syrup and corn starch are found in numerous processed foods. Since corn accounts for 95 percent of total feed grain, most commercially produced beef, dairy products, poultry and eggs come from animals that were fed GMO corn; go organic whenever possible. Fast food is also notoriously high in corn content.

7. Margarine

Once the health darling of the 1980s, margarine has become more commonly known as a source of hydrogenated oils (which can manifest as dangerous trans fats). As an imitation butter spread, margarine is generally made by hydrogenating (adding a hydrogen atom to) a liquid polyunsaturated oil, such as soybean, canola, or corn oil, so that it is solidified as if it were a saturated fat (as I wrote in my book The Great Cholesterol Myth, saturated fats have been vindicated in recent years and are no longer the poster children for heart disease). But what can pass as a saturated fat, does not affect the body like a saturated fat; hydrogenation that is partial or incomplete creates toxic trans fats, which induce free-radical stress in the body and increase Lp(a) – not a good combination. While fully hydrogenated varieties of margarine shouldn’t contain trans fats (unless the hydrogenation process was incomplete), they are still not great choices – the amount of polyunsaturated (omega-6) fats in margarine makes for an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fats in the body, which creates inflammation (again, the root cause of heart disease). My advice: ditch the margarine and opt grass-fed organic butter whenever possible, which will give you some heart healthy omega 3’s without all the artificial ingredients and excess omega-6 fats.

8. Hot Dogs (Bacon and Cold Cuts Too)

Hot dogs, sausages, bacon and lunch meats are all highly processed meat products. As such, they are usually full of nitrates and salt, are associated with a higher risk of developing colon cancer. Eat these foods in strict moderation, if at all, and be sure to accompany them with plenty of fiber-filled fresh fruits and veggies to help move them through your digestive tract more quickly.

9. Donuts

This one’s a no-brainer…That ultimate grab-and-go breakfast, the daily donut, is one of the worst foods to eat. Not only are these little dietary bombs literally dripping with inflammatory sugar, but donuts are generally loaded with very unhealthy fats: omega-6 oils (which oxidize easily when exposed to high frying temperatures), and sometimes even trans fats. What’s wrong with oxidized fats in the diet? Like excess sugar, they increase arterial inflammation – the root cause of heart disease. Devoid of nutrients and fiber, donuts are really just sources of “empty calories” that will leave you hungry for more an hour or two later. If you’re stuck with “continental breakfast” choices, be sure to pass on the donuts.

10. Swordfish

While, according to the EPA, tile fish (found in the Gulf of Mexico) ranked highest in mercury content among commercial fish and shellfish (per samples taken between 1999 and 2010), it is not commonly seen in markets and on menus across the U.S. Swordfish, on the other hand, which is an American staple fish of sorts, ranks second on the EPA list. Methyl mercury, an organic mercury compound released when coal is burned, progressively infiltrates our food supply through rain, algae, and fish, especially those in fresh water. Bigger fish – those higher up on the food chain – are more likely to carry more mercury than smaller fish. Mercury is a neurotoxin and affects the central nervous system; fetuses, infants and small children are the most vulnerable to its adverse developmental effects. Pregnant women, especially, and women who want to become pregnant should avoid larger fish like swordfish, bass, grouper, tuna, and king mackerel.

Additionally, be sure to choose wild-caught over farm-raised fish whenever possible. Farm raised fish are often given heavy doses of antibiotics to combat disease caused from extreme overcrowding. The EWG also found very high levels of cancer-causing PCBs (chemical industry contaminants) in farm-raised fish through a 2003 study.

Lastly, and although it didn’t make my top 10 worst foods to eat, I had to include “Whole Grain” Bread as another food to be avoided. The term “whole grain” is misleading, to say the least. In complete form, a whole grain consists of a germ, endosperm, and an outer bran encasement (images that might come to mind are whole barley, millet, or oats). Unfortunately, what we actually get in most “whole grain” products is much more refined. Products labeled “whole grain” must contain a minimum of 51% germ, endosperm and bran, but the grain can be processed. Processed grains can be ground into flour, popped into puffs, chopped into flakes, and more. As a consequence, our digestive systems handle them differently from true whole grains. Processed grains turn to sugar more quickly during digestion and are often much lower in fiber per serving; this translates to greater chance of weight gain and degenerative illness.

Bottom line – don’t buy into the “whole grain” gimmick. Avoid hybridized wheat, rye and barley. Opt for intact grains such as amaranth, quinoa, buck and short grain brown rice whenever possible, and always eat grains and bread in strict moderation – no matter what type – to prevent frequent and high blood sugar surges.

It may seem like some of your favorite foods are on this list, but don’t despair! If you can find a little extra time and are willing to commit to preparing your own homemade versions, or are able to seek out healthier variations, you can still indulge healthfully in the foods you love, and your body will benefit instead of having to deal with toxic junk food! As a general rule, the less ingredients a food has, the better – limit, if not eliminate, those with ingredients you can’t easily pronounce or don’t know what they are.

Leave a Reply

9 Comments

Louise

on September 5, 2014 at 6:16 am

I was almost approving of your infomercial pages until I found this one. Shame on you for jumping on the bandwagon Re.: Aspartame. As you very well know, it is a natural amino acid and the only thing wrong here is not the product but the usual gross misuse of it perpetrated by the US food industry, as in C-Cola for example. If everything you eat is saturated with it, obviously you will â€œoverdose;â€ same as with cane sugar. I cannot remember what the LD50 was but most people are probably close to it daily due to their eating habits. I â€œdo not doâ€ any processed food or drinks â€“ except wine. But I have been using aspartame with my usual standard eating since 1979, when I…â€¦ You do not even have the politeness to allow people to finish their comment!

beth

on September 8, 2014 at 12:41 pm

amazing how bed this is to our bodies but the fda has passed and permitted these chemicals in foods to be allowed. :(( Perhaps if more doctors would come together and rally to have these chemicals stopped in a BIG way….making the news in Washington , things would change…. If people stopped buying this stuff it would end.. Ya got t get them in their pocket..

Leanne

on September 9, 2014 at 4:54 am

Perhaps you may like to watch a great doco about aspartame and its history – “Sweet Misery”. It investigates the business and political shenanigans that manipulated the authorities to have it approved by the FDA. It is a neurotoxin and no doubt does great harm to anyone that ingests it. Trouble is, its usually a slow build up of toxicity, so it is initially not obvious. However the hidden effects from the body’s inflammatory reaction leads to weight gain and over time, with other unhealthy lifestyle choices, to allergies and other chronic diseases. Investigate and don’t be so naÃ¯ve people. Aspartame is not ‘protecting’ you from the perils of sugar. It is a business; its about marketing and profit. Be careful about what you put in your mouth.

myra

on January 9, 2015 at 10:30 pm

I was at a conference on thyroid issues a number of years ago, It was being presented by a medical Dr. Who is treating thyroid is a new way. Lots of discussion came up. One was one Aspartane this man stood up and said he worked in the labs that developed aspartane using monkeys they had to groups. One group when given the product got very mean the other group withdrawin after he got married he had some girls and never let them use aspartane. He said the FDA wasn’t going to approve it but money stepped in and it got approved. He said it should have never been approved.

Cynthia Clampitt

on June 4, 2015 at 5:22 pm

Just as an fyi, there is no GMO popcorn. So no one needs to buy organic popcorn to avoid GMOs. Popcorn is a tiny fraction of the corn that is grown in this country, far too tiny a fraction to bother modifying, since it’s just fine on its own. However, I agree about avoiding the microwave stuff, and I talk more about that in my book, Midwest Maize. Of course, not owning a microwave at all is probably the best option.

Claire

on December 11, 2015 at 1:42 am

I have glaucoma, and only have vision in one eye, so I am very limited in the use of cold OTC remedies. Antihistamines are entirely out for me. My Dr. lets me take Mucinex DM, but that is all.

Margaret MacDonald

on January 4, 2016 at 5:28 pm

I faithfully read your articles & agree on “natural” foods etc BUT – – NO ONE will reply on “STATIN SIDE-EFFECTS” & “HOW TO ELIMINATE THEM” !! In this day & age – there’s got to be something to “over-power” all these drugs that are literally KILLING people !!

Abhijeet

on March 10, 2016 at 9:41 am

Alcohol free hand sanitizer is the best hand sanitizer to prevent from catching and spreading a cold. Alcohol affected our little skin and cause many problems. alcohol free sanitizer play a vital role